The 15th annual Newport Beach film festival will run April 24 through May 1, featuring over 300 films from around the world. Among them is an exclusive screening of Italian cinema with the Italian Spotlight event, including the OC premiere of the highly acclaimed film A Five Star Life (Viaggio Sola),followed by a festive post-screening gala celebrating Italian culture, fashion, and music.
The movie, directed by Maria Sole Tognazzi, features Italian star Margherita Buy, winner of the David di Donatello Award for Best Actress in 2013. She plays the role of Irene, a woman who has a dream job: traveling through Europe to test the service at the leading hotels of the world’s 5-star establishments. Yet in the lap of that luxury, she is alone. The film was also awarded the Nastro d’Argento as Best Comedy by the Italian film critics union.
“The Festival continues a proud tradition of presenting the very best in Italian Cinema. A Five Star Life is a festival and critical favorite. We are very excited to screen a film that is both comedic and complex,” stated Gregg Schwenk, CEO of the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Celebrated as one of the leading film festivals in the United States, the Newport Beach Film Festival has evolved into a prestigious multicultural event, attracting over 53,000 attendees to Southern California.
Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program, a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the Festival focuses on showcasing a fresh and diverse collection of studio and independent films from around the globe.
Located along the pristine Orange County coastline, the Newport Beach Film Festival offers attendees an optimal setting to experience filmmaking at its best. With its action packed slate of film screenings, red carpet galas, international spotlights, nightly receptions, compelling conversations with filmmakers, fashion shows, music performances and industry seminars, the Newport Beach Film Festival has quickly gained recognition among filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
The Spotlight film, A Five Star Life (2013, Comedy, Italy, 86 minutes) will screen on Tuesday, April 29th at 8:00pm at Edwards Big Newport. The post-screening celebration will take place at the Via Lido Plaza, with select tastings from top Orange County restaurants, traditional entertainment as well as multiple DJs, and hosted bar by Stella Artois and Tito’s Vodka. Select retail partners will also offer special in-store promotions and entertainment. Admission to the Italian Spotlight film and the post-screening party is $40.00. For ticket information and updates visit www.Newport BeachFilm Fest.com
The Newport Beach Film Festival Italian Spotlight is supported by the Italian Heritage Culture Foundation, the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, L’Italo-Americano weekly newspaper, the Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles, the Italian Film Commission, Fondazione Italia, We the Italians, Italia.org, and Film 4 Life.
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